HACKENSACK A North Bergen Department of Public Works employee made his first appearance in a Bergen County courtroom yesterday morning on conspiracy and official misconduct charges.

Timothy Grossi, 73, deputy director of the North Bergen DPW, of Jersey City, is accused of ordering employees to work on political campaigns and to perform personal chores at his home and the homes of others while being paid by the township.

Grossi is one of four DPW officials who have been indicted by the Attorney General’s Office.

On Sept. 11, DPW Superintendent James Wiley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit official misconduct, admitting he directed DPW employees to perform hundreds of hours of chores at his home and to work on campaigns while being paid by the township.

Ten days later, DPW supervisors Troy Bunero and Francis Longo were indicted for allegedly directing employees to do personal chores for Wiley and work on campaigns.

In an eight-count state grand jury indictment, Grossi, was charged in December with conspiracy, two counts of official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct, theft by unlawful taking, misapplication of entrusted property and property of government, tampering with public records or information and falsifying or tampering with records.

Grossi, and his attorney Sam DeLuca, appeared yesterday before Bergen County Superior Court Judge Donald Venezia to hear the charges read.

The case was moved to Bergen County because Grossi “is a pseudo-public official in Hudson County,” a prosecutor said yesterday.

The prosecutor asked Venezia to consider bail in the case, but was denied. Venezia said Grossi was not a flight risk based on his lack of criminal history and his age.

DeLuca said he is considering a motion to bring the case back to Hudson County because “There is absolutely no criteria to take it out of Hudson.”

DeLuca said he might make a motion to have the case returned to Hudson County at Grossi’s next scheduled court appearance on May 13.

A township employee since 1985, Grossi has been suspended without pay and was earning $133,000 a year at the time of his arrest, a township spokesman said.